SELL-OUT performances by Joan Armatrading and Robert Plant ended the 12-day Ross International Festival.

As the dust settles on the fifth festival, organisers have declared themselves happy with the event, which generated record 40,000 ticket sales.

Big names like Boy George, Bill Wyman and Van Morrison have added to the reputation of the event, said director Helen Wragg.

"Although we are now the fastest growing festival in the UK, we've always stressed that its a community event," she said.